Sustainability Revolution in Giza: Show Jumping Series Discovers Sand Right on Its Doorstep

GIZA/Egypt – In a move that could change the future of international show jumping, the organisers of an upcoming five-star event against the iconic backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza have embraced a particularly local solution for their competition footing. Instead of transporting hundreds of tonnes of specially prepared equestrian sand across thousands of kilometres, they have decided to make use of what Egypt has had in abundance for thousands of years: sand.

“We took a look around the venue and realised that there was already a remarkable amount of sand available,” explains a fictional spokesperson for the event’s sustainability team. “Naturally, we had to ask ourselves whether importing additional sand was really necessary. Sometimes, the most sustainable solutions are literally right under our feet.”

The decision is already being hailed internally as a milestone in the circular economy. Transport distances are reduced, local value creation is strengthened, and the event’s carbon footprint is expected to look considerably greener, at least in the category of sand transportation. The fact that the sand does not need to be manufactured from scratch, but merely collected, makes the concept particularly attractive to the organisers.

Experts are quick to point out, however, that not all sand is created equal. While modern equestrian footing is carefully selected for its specific properties and often combined with additional materials, desert sand has one particularly remarkable quality: it is already there.

This natural abundance opens up entirely new possibilities for international event logistics. Where specialised deliveries, lengthy transport routes and complicated material decisions were once required, all that may be needed in future is a closer look at the nearest dune.

The development has also attracted interest from the riders' camp.

“We've been talking about sustainability for years. Sometimes, you simply have to look at what is already available locally,” one international top rider reportedly remarked. “I find it impressive when an organiser makes such consistent use of the resources in their immediate surroundings.”

Whether the concept can be replicated at other venues remains to be seen. Future events could nevertheless explore exciting new possibilities: gravel for competitions in the Alps, clay at rural venues, and perhaps even a completely locally sourced indoor arena surface made from the earth directly behind the riding hall.

The message from Giza is clear: sometimes, innovation requires no new technology, no complicated supply chains and no groundbreaking inventions. All you have to do is discover what is already there.

And when that happens to be millions of tonnes of sand, so much the better.